Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-06
GOVERNMENT MINIS


"hers the Most of Uncle sans Silver Dol
lars are Coz ned.
Says James p. Kimball, Director of
The United States Mint: The New
York assay office is the largest and
most important in the United States.
and more OF the precious metals are
handled here every year than at all the
other offices combined. Last year this
office manufactured into bars s48, 321,-
o6l.74 Of gold out Of total of S52, 259.-
I03.73, and S6,611.37522 of silver out
ofthe total of 1851. 68O.76. The affairs
Of the Office are in perfect shape and
condition, Notwithstanding the great
amount OF work done here, but we
always expect ID find its condition sat
Isfactory, and regard it as the model
Office OF the country. Its business is
systematized and is being done by old
and tried employees. Changes in the
personnel of the office are made as sell
dom as possible, and never for political
reasons. 1t is the only acid refinery
belonging to the Government, and gen
orally large quantities of metal to be
refined are sent here from the other
oihces because the facilities here are
SO much better.'
In answer to the question, why the
mother mint should have been placed
IN Philadelphia instead of in New York,
Mr.. Kimball said: The mint was es.
tablished in Philadelphia when that ctr
was the seat of government, and so has
since remained there. know that there
Is a strong feeling that it should be re-
moved either to this city or Washington,
ana Fhladelphians are constantly fear
ing that such a step may be taken. The
mint is, at present, inadequate for its
purpose; but no large appropriation is
asked for fear Congress may say. if il
requires so great a.sum to put it in con-
dition, why would it not be good idea
to build a new mint somewhere else.
AT present the steam plant is being re-
newed at the mint All we could get
for the purpose was 500, 900, though we
should have had 100000, but the
authorities feared to ask too large a sum,
because it night start the removal agita-
ton that the Pniladelphians dread SO
much.
The Philadelphia mint was never in
tended rs storage place for the
precious. metals, but we have been com
PEELED to care for large amounts. We
have some 5000, 000 of silver dollars
ut present stored in the vaults at the old
post-ollice building. not having room for
in &c
expense of guarding this money is
considerable and the esponsibiItv very
great. We shall be glad when all of this
treasure can be shipped to Washington,
as it will be when the great silver stor-
ing vaults, now being constructed in
the Treasury, are completed. Thesp
new vaults are calculated to hold 500
000,G00 of silver aollars. The most of
the silver dollar coinage is done in
Philadelphia. OF the 100000 silver
dollars coined monthly under the law.
100000 are struck off in Philadelphia.
and 100000 at New Orleans. Very
little of this coinage is done at the other
minis. and then only in case of emer-
gency.
just at present we are not coming
the silver dollar ut Philade lphia, be-
cause OF the new steam plant which is
being put in. which necessitated the
stOppage Of the work. There seems TO
have been an impression in the minds
of some that the 'non-coinage of the
dollar was for the purpose of contrac-
ton, but it is wholly on account of re-
newing our machinery. and just a,
soon as we can get to work again we
will make up for lost time; but, while
Philadelphia is not at work on the dol
lars, San Francisco is coming 100000
of them 20 help make up the deficiency.
The making of the silver dollars keeps Us
crowded all The time at Philadelphia,
but the reason why we don't have
more of the coming done at the other
branch minis is simply because of the
expense of shipping to Washington or
other depository after they are made"
N. J. Commercial AdrcrtiSer.